Nucleic acid quantification method

ABSTRACT

A method of determining absolute quantity of a sample template is provided, comprising: i) providing a series of control templates, each having a different and known copy number; ii) amplifying each control template and the sample template by PCR and detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product in each PCR cycle during an exponential phase to thereby obtain a series of control signals and a sample signal; iii) making a standard curve relating a known copy number of each control template with an intensity of each corresponding control signal for the each PCR cycle; and iv) determining a copy number of the sample template by using the standard curve to translate an intensity of the sample signal to the copy number of the sample template.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/251,802 filed on Apr. 14, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/750,018, filed on Apr. 15, 2013. The disclosures of these above applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to the field of biomolecule analysis, and more specifically to a method and kit for performing absolute quantification assay to measure the copy number of nucleic acids in biological samples.

BACKGROUND

The success of the Human Genome Project has paved the solid foundation for understanding each gene's function. However, we are facing the next challenge on the study of functional genomics as we are lack of powerful and reliable expression analysis and methods to assess the epigenome. In gene expression studies, many methods have been developed to perform assays, such as RT-PCR, DNA microarray and sequencing for RNA level expression analysis; western blot, ELISA, and protein microarray for protein level expression analysis. But all of them cannot meet the need of expression analysis of functional genomics studies.

The fundamental obstacle of transcriptome profile analysis rises from the fact that most experimental expressional data are relative quantification data (for example, disease vs. normal), not absolute quantification data. This is a severe bottleneck in Big Data To Knowledge (BD2K) (National Institutes of Health (NIH): Big Data to Knowledge), thus, the current project of National Institutes of Health's BD2K calls for standardizing data/metadata and integrating biomedical data. Therefore, a true absolute quantification method of expression profile is urgently needed.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a method of determining absolute quantity of at least one sample template.

The method comprises the following steps:

i) providing a series of control templates and at least one sample template, wherein each of the series of control templates has a different and known copy number;

ii) amplifying each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template by PCR and detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product obtained from amplification of each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template in each PCR cycle during an exponential phase to thereby obtain a series of control signals corresponding respectively to the series of control templates and at least one sample signal corresponding respectively to the at least one sample template for the each PCR cycle;

iii) making a standard curve relating an intensity of each of the series of control signals with a known copy number of one of the series of control templates corresponding to the each of the series of control signals for the each PCR cycle; and

iv) determining a copy number of each of the at least one sample template by using the standard curve to translate an intensity of each of the at least one sample signal to the copy number of the each of the at least one sample template.

According to some embodiments of the method, each of the series of control templates has a substantially same sequence. As such, a single pair of primers targeting the same sequence can be used for amplifying each of the series of control templates, which can represent a cost-effective manner. Yet in order to differentiate the series of control templates from one another, the amplification for the series of control templates shall be performed in different PCR reactions, such as in different wells of a multi-well plate, in different PCR tubes, etc.

However, according to some other embodiments of the method, at least two of the series of control templates has a different sequence among one another. As such, for the amplification of the at least two control templates having different sequences, a different pair of primers corresponding to each of the at least two control templates shall be used.

Although this embodiment of the method may not be as cost-effective in terms of the primers used, it allows the amplification of the at least two control templates to be performed in a shared PCR reaction, such as in one single well or in one single PCR tube, as long as there is an approach for differentiating the different PCR products corresponding to the at least two control templates. For example, a different probe targeting a different PCR product can be used for this purpose.

In the method disclosed herein, the standard curve in step iii) can be obtained with a regression analysis. Yet optionally, an analysis other than the regression analysis can be similarly performed to thereby obtain the standard curve in the method.

According to some embodiments of the method, the intensity of each of the series of control signals for making the standard curve in step iii) and the intensity of each of the at least one sample signal in step iv) are obtained from a same PCR cycle number.

In one illustrating example, the above same PCR cycle number can be 10 for each of the series of control templates and each of the at least one sample template. In other words, the intensity of each of the series of control signals that corresponds to 10 PCR cycles is used for making the standard curve in step iii), and then the intensity of each of the at least one sample signal in step iv) that also corresponds to 10 PCR cycles is used for determining their respective copy numbers. Herein, it is noted that the above same PCR cycle number is configured to be at an exponential stage.

According to some embodiments of the method, in step ii), the amplifying each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template is performed in separate PCR reactions.

Herein, the separate PCR reactions can optionally be performed in separate wells on a multiple-well plate, separate tubes, or separate reaction chambers in a microfluidic device.

According to some other embodiments of the method, in step ii), amplification of each of the series of control templates, amplification of the at least one sample template, or amplification of each of the series of control templates and one or more of the at least one sample template is performed in one single PCR reaction. Herein, the one single PCR reaction can be performed within one shared well or one shared PCR tube, etc.

Herein, in step ii), the amplifying each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template can be performed by means of a pair of primers corresponding to the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template. The pair of primers are further configured such that the amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template does not interfere with amplification of another of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template.

According to some embodiments of the method, in step ii), the detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product obtained from amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template is via a label-free approach without use of any dye or any label.

According to some other embodiments of the method, in step ii), the detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product obtained from amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template can be by means of at least one probe specifically targeting the PCR product obtained from the amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template. Herein, one single probe can be used to specifically target and detect the PCR product, but optionally, more than one probes can be used for the same purpose.

Optionally in step ii), the amplifying each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template can be performed in one single PCR reaction, wherein each of the at least one probe is further configured not to promiscuously target a PCR product obtained from amplification of another of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template.

According to some embodiments of the method, a number of at least one probe is one.

According to some embodiments of the method, each of the at least one probe comprises an oligonucleotide probe having at least one basic labelling unit thereon.

Herein, optionally, the at least one basic labelling unit in the each of the at least one probe can comprise a fluorophore. Furthermore, the each of the at least one probe can preferably further comprise a quencher, and the fluorophore and the quencher can be at the two ends of the probe molecule, but can optionally be at positions other than the ends thereof.

It is noted that according to other embodiments, the oligonucleotide probe can comprise a radioactive group.

Optionally, a type of the oligonucleotide probe described above can be a primer probe, a hydrolysis probe, or a probe comprising at least one nucleic acid analogue.

According to a preferred embodiment, the type of the oligonucleotide probe is a hydrolysis probe.

According to some embodiments of the method, in step ii), the detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product obtained from amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template can optionally be by means of a dsDNA (double strand DNA) dye.

Herein, optionally, step iii) comprises the following sub-steps:

adjusting an intensity of each of the series of control signals by a length of a PCR product obtained from amplification of one of the series of control templates corresponding to the each of the series of control signals to thereby obtain an adjusted intensity of the each of the series of control signals; and

making a standard curve relating the adjusted intensity of the each of the series of control signals with the known copy number of the one of the series of control templates for the each PCR cycle;

Accordingly, step iv) comprises the following sub-steps:

adjusting an intensity of each of the at least one sample signal by a length of a PCR product obtained from amplification of one of the at least one sample signal corresponding to the each of the at least one sample signal to thereby obtain an adjusted intensity of the each of the at least one sample signal; and

determining the copy number of the each of the at least one sample template by using the standard curve to translate the adjusted intensity of the each of the at least one sample signal to the copy number of the each of the at least one sample template.

In the method disclosed herein, the following is noted.

More than one interested gene sequences can be quantified in a single PCR reaction via utilizing the technology of fluorescent-labeled target-specific probe, and by applying a variety of fluorescent dyes and multiple primers to simultaneously amplify many sequences.

Fluorophore-labeled oligonucleotides can be divided into three subgroups according to the type of fluorescent molecules used in the PCR reaction: (i) probes acting as primers, called primer-probes (Scorpions, Amplifluor, LUX, Cyclicons, Angler, BD QZyme™ assay); (ii) hydrolysis probes emitting fluorescent light upon degradation during the extension phase (TaqMan, MGB-TaqMan, Snake assay), and hybridization probes that give a fluorescent signal when binding to the DNA target during the amplification reaction (Hybprobe or FRET, Molecular Beacons, HyBeacon, MGB-Pleiades, MGB-Eclipse, ResonSense, Yin-Yang or displacing); and (iii) analogues of nucleic acids PNA, LNA, ZNA, non-natural bases: Plexor primer, Tiny-Molecular Beacon) (One example: PNAs are peptide nucleic. They are achiral and electrically neutral DNA analogues, hybridize to complementary oligonucleotides. This nucleic acid analogue is attached to a molecule of thiazole orange or a fluorophore for qPCR reactions. Be used in primer-probes or probes).

Label-free means that the amount of PCR product is obtained from detecting signal which is not generated by dye or fluorescence, such as the technique of a sequence-tagged reverse-transcription PCR coupled with pyrosequencing (SRPP) which quantify gene expression through decoding the source-specific amplicons by pyrosequencing.

Throughout the disclosure, the term “substantially same sequence” is referred to as a situation where two or more sequences are at least 95% identical, and preferably more than 99% identical.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present application will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 provides a schematic representation of gene expression microarray technology;

FIG. 2 provides a schematic representation of two-color gene expression microarray technology;

FIG. 3 provides a schematic representation of spike-in method in gene expression microarray technology;

FIG. 4 provides an example of spike-in method in gene expression microarray technology to assay the copy number of sample of interest;

FIG. 5 demonstrates the feasibility that hybridization of the spotted dilution series with a single spike-in concentration of external RNA produced identical profiles of signal intensities compared to the signals obtained from serial spike-in dilutions of the external reference RNA;

FIG. 6 provides a schematic representation of built-in standard curve with a single saturated spike-in amount (SS-target) method (SS-spike-in) in end-labeling microarray technology (labeling method one);

FIG. 7 illustrates how built-in standard curve is used in quantitative PCR;

FIG. 8 illustrates the principle of sandwiched immunoassay;

FIG. 9 illustrates how built-in standard curve is used in sandwich ELISA;

FIG. 10 illustrates how built-in standard curve is used in sandwich membrane antibody array;

FIG. 11 provides a schematic representation of built-in standard curve with SS-spike-in method in multi-nucleotide labeling microarray technology (labeling method two);

FIG. 12 provides a schematic representation of built-in standard curve with SS-spike-in method in dsDNA/dsRNA dye staining microarray technology (labeling method three);

FIG. 13 provides a putative standard curve and linear regression equation resulting from the use of a serial dilution of pre-engineered probe (SS-probe) and the complementary SS target technology, or a series of built-in control templates;

FIG. 14 provides a diagram to illustrate what the computer software is composed of;

FIG. 15 provides a putative standard curve and linear regression equation of the prior art computational method of absolute PCR; and

FIG. 16 illustrates threshold, exponential and plateau phases of real-time PCR amplification.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

For decades, scientists have been trying to measure the absolute levels of gene expression; however, it has not been successful. The basic concept of this invention is to develop experimental techniques which are capable of measuring absolute levels of key components of biological molecules, such as miRNA, mRNAs, DNA strands, proteins, peptides, polymers, polysaccharide, phospholipid, metabolite, and chemical compound. Thus, the measured biological data can meet the requirements of standardization and integration in functional genomics studies.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a widely used biomedical technology which can quantitatively determine levels of gene expression and is often called the gold standard in gene quantitative field. However, most quantitatively analyzed PCR data are relative data. Although the emerging technique of digital PCR (dPCR) offers a unique approach to measure the copies of specific nucleic acids, dPCR is prone to saturation and inevitably fails when all reactions are positive; has disagreement comparing the estimated DNA copies with the result of UV spectrophotometry measurement. Mostly, dPCR is neither cost efficient nor high-throughput because it only assay one or two gene(s) each time. Thus, PCR/dPCR cannot meet the need of expression analysis of functional genomics studies.

Sequencing technologies have been used in facilitating gene expression analysis, yet current sequence technologies have not found the solution to determine gene copy number.

Microarray is the first rapid and high-throughput technology in the quantification of gene expression but most current microarray based methods are generally used to assay the relative representation of nucleic acids (for example, disease vs. normal).

Therefore, a real breakthrough in gene expression copy number assay is urgently needed, especially at high-throughput scale, at today's Big Data To Knowledge (BD2K) era (National Institutes of Health (NIH): Big Data to Knowledge). This innovation is aimed to offer a simple, yet effective approach to innovate the conventional relative gene expression measurements to be able to perform absolute gene copy number quantification that ties in with two major challenges (standardizing data/metadata and integrating biomedical data) which are on the list of the current mission of National Institutes of Health's BD2K. The approach of the present invention is applicable in different platforms of biosensor detection systems to contribute maximally to the need of standardization and integration of biological data.

Biosensor detection systems typically consist of bio-recognition component, biotransducer component, and biosensor reader device. The system takes advantage of the selective interaction and binding (affinity) of certain biological molecules to identify molecular structures and furthermore measure levels of different analytes (i.e. the specific substance whose presence is being quantitatively or qualitatively analyzed). Affinity-based biosensors exploit selective binding and interaction of certain bio-molecules (recognition probes) to detect specific target analytes in biological samples. The following are some examples of biosensor detect platforms.

Membrane-based antibody arrays are based on the sandwich immunoassay principle. A panel of antibodies (probe, function as capture) is immobilized in specific spot locations on the surface of membrane to capture proteins (target) by corresponding antibodies. ELISA arrays are based on the same principle of membrane-based antibody arrays; however, antibodies are immobilized in specific wells of multiple-well plates. Microarrays are densely packed biosensor arrays which detect thousands of different analytes simultaneously are popular in genomics, proteomics, molecular diagnostics, and systems biology.

PCR also belongs to the biosensor platforms with amplification involved in the measured particular DNA sequence. The essential role of biosensor platforms is to exploit specific bindings of the probe-target complexes to produce detectable signals, which correlate with the presence of the targets and conceivably their abundance. Detection methods can be label or label-free technologies.

Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Before the subject invention is further described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments of the invention described below, as variations of the particular embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting. Instead, the scope of the present invention will be established by the appended claims.

It must be noted that as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

The present application relates to a method of determining the absolute quantity of a molecule of interest (sample target), comprising:

i). providing a first molecule as control partner 1 and a second molecule as sample probe;

ii). providing a third molecule as control partner 2 and a fourth molecule as sample target;

iii). providing a series of control partner 1 with different and known copy numbers;

iv). attaching the series of control partner 1 onto a solid support at separate locations;

v). attaching at least one sample probe or at least one sample target onto the solid support;

vi). contacting at least one control partner 2 with the series of control partner 1, wherein the series of control partner 1 recognize and bind the at least one control partner 2, resulting directly or indirectly in a series of detectable control signals, wherein the intensity of each location of the detectable control signals correlates with the known copy number of the control partner 1 in the series of control partner 1, wherein the copy number of control partner 2 is no less than the copy number of control partner 1;

vii). detecting the control signals and making a standard curve relating the signal intensities of the series of detectable control signals with the known copy number of the control partner 1 in the series of control partner 1;

viii). adding at least one sample target or at least one sample probe to allow the at least one sample probe contacting with the at least one sample target, wherein the at least one sample probe recognizes and binds the at least one sample target, resulting directly or indirectly in a detectable sample signal, wherein the intensity of each location of the detectable sample signals correlates with the copy number of the at least one sample target, wherein the copy number of sample probes is no less than the copy number of sample targets;

ix). determining the copy number of the at least one sample target by using the standard curve to translate the sample signal intensity to the copy number of the at least one sample target.

In one embodiment, the control partner 2 is directly or indirectly labeled with one or more basic labeling units, wherein the at least one sample target or the at least one sample probe are directly or indirectly labeled with basic labeling units, wherein the detectable signals are the signals from the basic labeling units directly or indirectly on the control partner 2 and the basic labeling units directly or indirectly on the at least one sample target or the at least one sample probe.

In another embodiment, the signals are detected at the locations to which the control partner 1, the at least one sample probe or the at least one sample target are attached, wherein the control partner 2, the at least one sample probe or the at least one sample target are labeled with one or more basic labeling units, wherein the signal intensities of the labeled control partner 2, the at least one sample probe or the at least one sample target are transformed into signal intensity unit (IU) or sum of IU (SIU), wherein SIU is obtained by dividing the signal intensity at a location on the solid support by the number of basic labeling units per molecule that is labeled with basic labeling unit, wherein IU is obtained by dividing the SIU by the copy number of the molecules directly or indirectly labeled with basic labeling units at the location, wherein the copy number of the directly or indirectly labeled control partner 2 is the copy number of control partner 2 that are bound to control partner 1.

In yet another embodiment, the standard curve in step vii is made with regression analysis.

In yet another embodiment, the at least one sample probe binds the at least one sample target and the control partner 1 bind the control partner 2 at approximately constant ratio.

In yet another embodiment, the at least one sample probe binds the at least one sample target and the control partner 1 bind the control partner 2 at approximately one molecule to one molecule ratio.

In yet another embodiment, the provided molecules in step i and ii are selected from the group consisting of: (i) DNA, (ii) RNA, (iii) protein, (iv) peptide, (v) polysaccharide, (vi) chemical compound and (vii) antibody.

In yet another embodiment, the solid support is selected from a group consisting of: (i) glass, (ii) plastic, (iii) silicon, (iv) microscopic polystyrene beads, (v) nitrocellulose membrane, (vi) PVDF, (vii) metal, and (viii) multiple-well plate.

In yet another embodiment, the at least one sample probe or the at least one sample target and control partner 1 are premade prior to being attached as spots of serial dilutions of known value to the solid surface.

In yet another embodiment, the control partner 1 and the at least one sample probe or the at least one sample target are directly synthesized on the solid support.

In yet another embodiment, the “synthesized” is carried out with photolithographic synthesis.

In yet another embodiment, the control partner 2 and the at least one sample target or the at least one sample probe are directly or indirectly labeled by a labeling method by applying from the group consisting of: (i) fluorophore, (ii) chemiluminescent agent, (iii) silver, (iv) affinity, (v) photochemical agent, (vi) enzyme, (vii) chromophore, and (viii) radioisotope tags.

In yet another embodiment, the signal intensity is detected with a microarray laser scanner.

In yet another embodiment, the signals are detected by label-free technology.

In yet another embodiment, the label-free technology is surface plasmon resonance (SPR), microelectromechanical system (MEMS), carbon nanowire sensors or carbon nanotubes.

Another aspect of the present application relates to a method of determining the absolute quantity of a molecule of interest, comprising:

i). providing a first molecule as control partner 1 and a second molecule as sample probe;

ii). providing a third molecule as control partner 2 and a fourth molecule as sample target;

iii). attaching a series of control partner 1 with different and known copy numbers onto separate wells on a multiple-well plate;

iv). attaching at least one sample probe or at least one sample target onto a well not occupied by control partner 1 on the plate;

v). contacting at least one control partner 2 with the series of control partner 1 in separate wells, wherein the series of control partner 1 recognize and bind the at least one control partner 2, resulting in a series of complex of control partner 1 and control partner 2 with the known copy number of the control partner 1 in the series of control partner 1, wherein the copy number of control partner 2 is no less than the copy number of control partner 1, wherein the control partner 2 is directly or indirectly labeled with basic labeling unit;

vi). adding at least one sample target or at least one sample probe into a well to allow the at least one sample probe contacting with the at least one sample target, wherein the at least one sample probe recognizes and binds the at least one sample target, resulting in a complex of sample target and sample probe, wherein the copy number of sample probes is no less than the copy number of sample targets, wherein the sample target or sample probe is directly or indirectly labeled with basic labeling unit;

vii). adding a substrate into the wells to produce a color by the labels on the complexes, wherein the color intensity of each well correlates with the copy number of the control partner 1 or with the copy number of the sample target;

viii). detecting the intensity of the color signals by a plate reader;

ix). making a standard curve relating the signal intensities of the complexes of control partner 2 and series of control partner 1 with the known copy numbers of the control partner 1 in the series of control partner 1, wherein the standard curve is made with regression analysis;

x). determining the copy number of the sample target in the well by using the standard curve to translate the sample signal intensity to the copy number of the sample target.

In one embodiment, the basic labeling unit is an enzyme, wherein the enzyme directly labels the control partner 2 and sample target or sample probe, respectively, wherein the enzyme reacts with the substrate to produce the color.

In another embodiment, the control partner 2 and sample target or sample probe are indirectly labeled via a “bridge” that can unite the molecule of interest and a molecule carrying an enzyme, wherein the enzyme reacts with the substrate to produce the color.

Another aspect of the present application relates to a method of determining the absolute quantity of a molecule of interest, comprising:

i). providing a first molecule as control template and a second molecule (molecule of interest) as sample template;

ii). depositing a series of control templates with different and known copy numbers into separate wells on a multiple-well plate;

iii). depositing at least one sample template into a well not occupied by a control template on the plate;

iv). amplifying the series of control templates and the at least one sample template by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with a pair of primers that complements the control template and a pair of primers that complements the at least one sample template, respectively, wherein the amounts of PCR products in copy numbers from series of control templates reflect the known copy numbers of control templates before the PCR reactions, wherein the amount of PCR product in copy number from the at least one sample template reflects the copy number of the at least one sample template before the PCR reaction;

v). detecting the PCR products with a binding partner that specifically binds the PCR products, wherein the binding partner has one or more basic labeling unit, wherein the basic labeling unit emits a detectable signal;

vi). transforming the signal intensity of the detectable signal into intensity unit (IU) or sum of IU (SIU), wherein SIU is obtained by dividing the signal intensity in a well by the number of basic labeling units per PCR product molecule that binds with binding partner that has the basic labeling unit, wherein IU is obtained by dividing the SIU by the copy number of the sample or control template before PCR amplification;

vii). making a standard curve relating the signal intensities of the series of control templates with the known copy numbers of the control templates in the series of control templates for each PCR cycle in the exponential phase, wherein the standard curve is made with regression analysis;

viii). determining the copy number of the sample template before PCR reaction by using the standard curve to translate the sample signal intensity to the copy number of the sample template.

In one embodiment, the binding partner in step v is an oligonucleotide that specifically binds the PCR products.

In another embodiment, the oligonucleotide is a dual-labeled probe, wherein the dual-labels consist of a fluorophore attached to the 5′-end of the probe and a quencher at the 3′-end.

In yet another embodiment, the binding partner in step v is a dsDNA (double strand DNA) dye that specifically binds the double-stranded PCR products.

In yet another embodiment, the dye is a dye selected from the group consisting of: (i) SYBR Green I, (ii) PicoGreen, (iii) QuantiFluor, (iv) AccuBlue, (v) Hoechst 33258, (vi) BEBO, and (vii) AccuClear.

In yet another embodiment, in step viii the standard curve and sample signal intensity are from the same PCR cycle.

I. Microarrays

A microarray is a multiplex lab-on-a-chip. It is a 2D array on a solid substrate (usually a glass slide, nitrocellulose membrane, bead, multiple-well plate, or silicon thin-film cell) that assays large amounts of biological material using high-throughput screening miniaturized, multiplexed and parallel processing and detection methods. The microarray can be DNA microarray, protein microarray, peptide microarray, tissue microarray, cellular microarray, chemical compound microarray. The miRNA microarray provides the profile of miRNA expression; the peptide microarray provides detailed analyses or optimization of protein-protein interactions; tissue microarray provides multiplex histological analysis; the cellular microarray provides the multiplex interrogation of living cells on the surface of a solid support; the chemical compound microarray which is a collection of organic chemical compounds spotted on a solid surface provides a tool to search proteins that bind with specific chemical compounds; the DNA microarray is the best known and most currently used microarray in biological and medical research, its applications include gene expression profiling, comparative genomic hybridization, GeneID, chromatin immunoprecipitation on chip, DamID, SNP detection, alternative splicing detection, fusion genes microarray, and tiling array; the protein microarray's applications include profiling protein abundance (known as analytical microarrays or capture arrays), and identifying protein-protein, protein-DNA, protein-RNA, protein-phospholipid, and protein-small molecule interactions (known as functional protein microarrays or target protein arrays). The formed probe-target hybridization is then detected and quantified by detection of fluorophore-, silver-, chemiluminescence-, affinity-, photochemical-, or radioisotope-labeled targets/probes to determine relative abundance of the molecules of interest. A number of label-free detection methods are also available, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), carbon nanotubes, carbon nanowire sensors (where detection occurs via changes in conductance) and microelectromechanical system (MEMS) cantilevers. In label-free technology, 3D result may be obtained.

For the convenience and clarity of explanation, RNA end-label microarray, such as miRNA microarray is chosen to be an example of DNA microarray hybridization-based platforms to explain the principle of the technology and the use of this innovation in microarray. DNA microarray technology evolved from Southern blotting, where fragmented DNA is attached to a substrate and then probed with a known DNA sequence. A DNA microarray is a collection of thousands of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface. Each DNA spot contains picomoles (10-12 moles) of a specific DNA sequence, known as probe (or reporters or oligonucleotides). These can be a short section of a gene or other DNA element that are used to hybridize a cDNA or cRNA (also called anti-sense RNA) sample (known as target) under hybridization conditions, unbound nucleic acid is then removed. Probe-target hybridization is then scanned in a microarray scanner to visualize fluorescence its intensity is correlated with the abundance of target of interest.

FIG. 1 provides a schematic representation of gene expression microarray technology. Labeled target 101 in target 100 binds to specific probe 201 fixed on the glass slide 200 through hybridization. The labeled fluorophore can be detected during scanning process and the scanned signal intensity at the location 201 represents the quantity of target RNA 101.

In order to have a baseline expression measure for each gene to enable normalization and comparison of independent experiments, UR and two-color labeling method was developed in microarray technology showing in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 provides a schematic representation of two-color gene expression microarray technology. Cy-3 labeled target 101S in sample target 100S and Cy-5 labeled target 101U in UR target 100U bind to specific probe 201SU fixed on the glass slide 200SU through hybridization. The labeled fluorophore can be detected during scanning process and the scanned signal intensities at the location 201SU represent the quantity of sample target RNA 101S (green) and UR target 101U (red), respectively; color yellow indicates almost equal amount of green (101S) and red (101U).

However, UR and two-color labeling method cost twice and UR is not feasible to establish a true universal reference either. A better approach would be absolute quantification, which may be achieved if such a method is established that it performs simultaneous labeling and hybridization of the sample of interest and the standard reference that is used in the method can represent global miRNAs' characters.

Under the prior art methods, each experiment obtains a relative quantitative data because the direct absolute quantification of RNAs by the measured array signal intensity alone is impossible due to the sequence-dependent labeling and hybridization efficiencies of RNAs and the labeling and hybridization variations of each experiment. Thus it is difficult to compare and integrate data of different experiments. To date, few experimental approaches have been developed to meet the quantification and data comparison requirements and spike-in is the most notable. In the prior art spike-in method involves printing a set of foreign control probes (no cross hybridization with the sample target of interest) (S-probe) onto the arrays and then adding their corresponding RNA (S-target) into the sample RNA of interest before labeling and hybridization. Thus, spike-in cancels biases related to labeling and hybridization caused by variations of each experiment. In the prior art spike-in, the spike-in target is the one with known amount.

FIG. 3 provides a schematic representation of spike-in method in gene microarray technology. Labeled spike-in foreign miRNA 301 and 302 (which are S-targets) in the mix of target 300 (that is the sample miRNA of interest) bind to specific probe 401 and 402 (which are S-probes) fixed on the glass slide 400 through hybridization, respectively. The miRNA 301 and 302 are spiked-in at different abundance; probe 401 and 402 are fixed on the glass slide with the same abundance. The labeled fluorophore can be detected during scanning process and the scanned signal intensity at the location 401 and 402 represent the quantity of S-target 301 and 302, respectively. This method has been widely used in microarray quality control and relative quantification analysis.

Carter et al. demonstrated that spike-in can be used to perform absolute quantification of endogenous RNA expression (CARTER et al. 2005). They used seven yeast mRNA sequences as exogenous mRNA controls (S-target). Gene expression profiles were generated for triplicate total RNA samples from mouse embryo, placenta, ES cells, and TS cells with yeast sequence (S-targets) spike-in at different known copy numbers. A linear regression analysis was performed on those S-target mean normalized log 10[intensity] values for each microarray. The regression line for the average of all tissues was shown in dashed line and its equation was used to back-calculate estimated copy numbers for endogenous transcripts as Chmi=(Ii−a)/b, where Chmi is the microarray-estimated number of copies per hybridization for probe i, Ii is the normalized log 10[intensity] for probe i, and a and b are the intercept and slope of S-targets as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 provides an example of spike-in method in gene expression microarray technology to assay the copy number of sample of interest. This work was done by Carter et al. FIG. 4 is the original FIG. 2b in the publication (CARTER et al. 2005). The linear regression of seven yeast S-target copy number to mean microarray signal intensity spiked-in mouse RNAs of embryo, placenta, ES cells and TS cells shows very robust microarray signal intensity-copy number correlations, with r² value of 0.99.

For accurate normalization among individual experiments, however, the S-target concentrations must be precise across all the samples using the prior art spike-in method which Carter used; this is often challenging and it has been rarely used in gene copy number assay. Another shortcoming of the prior art spike-in is that one S-target sequence only generates one intensity data in an array; a linear regression can only be made on the combination of S-target sequences. Thus one standard curve for all endogenous RNA normalization is not feasible because it cannot reflect the linear dynamic range of sequences with different attributes, therefore, the standard reference cannot represent global RNAs' characters. Yet another shortcoming of the prior art spike-in is that it cannot reflect the difference of labeling amount caused by different gene sequences. Therefore, the first need is to innovate the prior art spike-in method from the individual controlled amount to centralized quality control to guarantee the amount of spike-in reference being equal among all measured samples. To achieve this goal, the best approach is to standardize the S-probe via manufacture process which in turn control the amount of S-target because the one to one molecule binding ratio between probe and target.

The feasibility of the above idea of using fixed probe to control spike-in amount is experimentally proved by a published data of Yauk et al. in 2006 (YAUK et al. 2006). In order to find a better quality assurance and/or normalization features for their specific toxicogenomics microarray, they designed an alternative method of microarray control compared to commercial available microarray. Contrary to the general practice that employs the prior art spike-in method described before, they tested the possibility of a method that uses a single external control spike-in concentration of one RNA sequence, but hybridizes against spotted dilutions of the complimentary probes printed on the array. Using Arabidopsis thaliana chlorophyll synthase gene, they performed reciprocal dilution experiments to determine the extent to which on-chip probe concentrations were mimics of the effects of variable concentrations of the solution-phase cRNA partner in bimolecular hybridization reactions. The chlorophyll synthase cRNA was spike-in a single concentration (5 ng) with mouse RNA (5 μg) and hybridized against spotted dilutions (0.000015 to 100 μM, covered from background to saturation) of its probe on an array; reciprocally, dilution series of the spike-in reference cRNA were made in solutions with mouse RNAs and hybridized to multiple arrays. The result was shown in FIG. 5 (also the original FIG. 5 in the publication).

FIG. 5 demonstrates the feasibility that hybridization of the spotted dilution series with a single spike-in concentration of external RNA produced identical profiles of signal intensities compared to the signals obtained from serial spike-in dilutions of the external reference RNA (YAUK et al. 2006).

However, Yauk's method cannot be used in absolute quantification because no reference with absolute quantity can be defined in the publication. Their purpose of developing this reverse series of reference is well expressed in their summary quoted from the publication: “The design and placement of the series allows for QA (quality assurance) examination of frequently encountered problems in hybridization and printing. Additionally, we demonstrate that the series can be integrated with a LOWESS normalization to improve the detection of differential gene expression (improved sensitivity and predictivity) over LOWESS normalization on its own.” (YAUK et al. 2006) Yauk et al. pointed out that their major goal was to satisfy the need of quality assurance; as a minor effect, the design could improve the detection of differential gene expression that is relative quantification, when used with LOWESS normalization together. The relative quantification of Yauk's method was done mainly depended on UR with two-color system, and the reverse series of reference could only be used to improve the detection of differential gene expression.

Although abandoned by Yauk et al. in their later publications (ALVO et al. 2010, MALIK et al. 2012), reverse control has certain advantages: 1) It is easy to standardize the reference as it can be manufactured on the array. 2) More than one standard curves can be developed on the same array chip to better represent global RNAs' characters. For those reasons, reverse dilution is employed to develop absolutely quantitative microarray to innovate the current general practice of relative quantification via manufactured built-in standard curve in the following.

In order to distinguish from the prior art spike-in, the spike-in employed in the present application to develop a universal absolute copy number standard curve will be named SS-spike-in (single saturated spike-in amount). Probes corresponding to the SS-spike-in (SS-probe) will be printed on an array with serial copy number dilutions which span signal intensities from near background to saturation. SS-spike-in foreign biological molecule (SS-target) which has no cross hybridization with the target biological molecule of interest will be added into the experiment sample in the amount of more than 1× total SS-probe copy numbers on the array chip.

FIG. 6 provides a schematic representation of built-in standard curve with SS-spike-in method in end-labeling microarray technology. Labeled SS-spike-in miRNA 501 (SS-target) with a single amount in the mix of target 500 binds to specific probe spots with serial dilutions, such as spot 601 and 602 (SS-probe) fixed on the glass slide 600 through hybridization. Spot 601 and 602 have the same sequence that corresponding to SS-target 501, but with different copy numbers. The labeled fluorophore can be detected during scanning process and the scanned signal intensity at the location 601 and 602 represent the quantity of SS-target 501 as known copy numbers of SS-probe 601 and 602, respectively.

Linear regression analysis of SS-target signal and SS-probe is used to define a standard curve relating signal intensity to copy number. Determination of endogenous miRNA copy number of target 500 will be back-calculated according to the formula obtained from the regression analysis of standard curve. FIG. 6 illustrates that one SS-target can generate one standard curve. Multiple standard curves representing different attributes may be generated on the same array by employing different SS-targets and SS-probes.

For protein microarray, the capture molecules arrayed on the solid surface may be antibodies, antigens, aptamers (nucleic acid-based ligands), affibodies (small molecules engineered to mimic monoclonal antibodies), or full length proteins. The technology principle of antibodies as capture molecules is illustrated in the section of ELISA. The principle of SS-spike-in method is the same as described above, but the arrayed capture molecules in serial dilutions are antibodies, antigens, aptamers, affibodies, or full length proteins.

II. PCR Array

The PCR is a biochemical technology in molecular biology used to amplify a single or a few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude. The DNA which is amplified is called template (It is a target) for PCR reaction. The quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods allow the estimation of the amount of a given sequence present in a sample, the template, a technique often applied to quantitatively determine levels of gene expression. qPCR is an established tool for DNA quantification that measures the accumulation of DNA product after each cycle of PCR amplification. This technology is very well known in the art, thus, the detail description of the technique is omitted, but mention of that a pair of primers (They are probes, which detect and amplify targets) decide the sequence specificity and length of amplicon.

There are two major methods for simultaneous detection and quantification in qPCR: double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) dye based or probe based (This probe detects PCR product abundance). SYBR Green I is one of dsDNA-binding dye. It binds to the minor groove of dsDNA and upon binding increases in fluorescence over a hundred fold. Thus, fluorescence measurement at the end of the elongation step of every PCR cycle can monitor the increasing amount of amplified DNA to provide an excellent tool for specific product identification and quantification. Probe based qPCR relies on the sequence-specific detection of a desired PCR product. It utilizes a fluorescent-labeled target-specific probe, such as TaqMan probe, resulting fluorescence signal permits quantitative measurements of the accumulation of the product during the exponential stages of the PCR (MACKAY 2002, BioSearch Technologies, BENGTSSON et al. 2003, WITTWER et al. 1997, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Probe Database, HOLLAND et al. 1991).

PCR quantification may also be achieved by a lab-free method. Label-free means that the amount of PCR product is obtained from detecting signal which is not generated by dye or fluorescence, such as the technique of a sequence-tagged reverse-transcription PCR coupled with pyrosequencing (SRPP) which quantify gene expression through decoding the source-specific amplicons by pyrosequencing.

FIG. 7 illustrates how built-in standard curve is used in quantitative PCR. The DNA template of control is pre-spotted in multiple-well plate in serial dilutions, such as 701 and 702 on 96-well plate 700. The detected signal by real-time PCR (real-time PCR is qPCR) machine, such as QuantStudio™ Real-Time PCR system, will be subjected to linear regression analysis on control template to define standard curve relating signal intensity to copy number. Determination of the copy number of sample of interest will be back-calculated the endogenous miRNA copy number of target 500 according to the formula obtained from the regression analysis of standard curve. Since each reaction is isolated in a well, the control template sequence can be exogenous or endogenous.

III. ELISA Array and Membrane Based Array

The principle of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a test that uses antibodies and color change to identify an “analyte”. Performing an ELISA involves at least one antibody with specificity for a particular antigen. The sample with an unknown amount of antigen is immobilized on a solid support (usually a polystyrene multiple-well plate) either non-specifically (via adsorption to the surface) or specifically (via capture by another antibody specific to the same antigen, in a “sandwich” ELISA). After the antigen is immobilized, the detection antibody is added, forming a complex with the antigen. The detection antibody can be covalently linked to an enzyme, or can itself be detected by a secondary antibody that is linked to an enzyme through bioconjugation. Between each step, the plate is typically washed with a mild detergent solution to remove any proteins or antibodies that are non-specifically bounded. After the final wash step, the plate is developed by adding an enzymatic substrate to produce a visible signal, which indicates the quantity of antigen in the sample. ELISA is performed by methods that stay liquid and remain inside a reaction chamber or well needed to keep the reactants contained. The types of ELISA include: direct ELISA that the antigen to be tested is immobilized to each well of a multiple-well plate, “indirect” ELISA (sandwich ELISA that is illustrated in FIG. 8), competitive ELISA (such as cumulative competition occurs between the two antibodies for the same antigen, causing a stronger signal to be seen.), or simultaneous detection of different antibodies and antigens.

The principle of membrane based array (antibody array) is similar to western blot, but pre-immobilized antibodies on the membrane. Thus, all detection methods which are useful for western blot can be used in membrane based array, such as colorimetric detection, chemiluminescent detection, radioactive detection, and fluorescent detection. Since membrane based array belongs to protein immunoblot, it submits to the same principle of immunoreaction of ELISA.

FIG. 8 illustrates the principle of sandwiched immunoassay. (1) Plate/membrane is coated with a capture antibody; (2) sample is added, and any antigen present binds to capture antibody; (3) detecting antibody is added, and binds to antigen; (4) enzyme-linked secondary antibody is added, and binds to detecting antibody; (5) substrate is added and is converted by enzyme to detectable form.

FIG. 9 illustrates how built-in standard curve is used in sandwich ELISA. The capture antibody of control is pre-immobilized in multiple-well plate in serial dilutions, such as 801 and 802 on 96-well plate 800 to generate a standard curve. The antibodies of sample of interest are pre-immobilized in multiple-well plate in saturated amount. The detected signal by plate reader will be subjected to linear regression analysis on control wells to define standard curve relating signal intensity to copy number. Determination of the copy number of sample of interest will be back-calculated according to the formula obtained from the regression analysis of standard curve. Since each reaction is isolated in a well, the capture antibody of control may or may not be the sample of interest.

FIG. 10 illustrates how built-in standard curve is used in sandwich membrane antibody array. The capture antibody of control is pre-spotted on the membrane, (e.g. nitrocellulose/PVDF membrane) in serial dilutions, such as 901 and 902 on nitrocellulose membrane 900 to generate a standard curve. Chemiluminescence signal is detected in the same manner as a western blot. The detected signal will be subjected to linear regression analysis on control to define standard curve relating signal intensity to copy number. Determination of the copy number of sample interest will be back-calculated according to the formula obtained from the regression analysis of standard curve. The capture antibody of control should not have cross-binding with the sample interest, but may be endogenous or exogenous.

IV. Calculating Signal Intensity Unit and Various Labeling Methods

Although SS-spike-in method can solve the problem of standardizing the reference amount via engineering serial dilutions of SS-probe and may represent different RNA characters via engineering more than one standard curves, SS-spike-in alone still cannot reflect the difference of signal intensity of different molecule. Thus, it is yet a need to compare each molecule at the precise same level among sample and control. That goal will be achieved via computational method described in the following.

Another feature of the present application is to translate the detected signal intensity to signal intensity unit (IU). The IU is per detectable unit per copy of molecule. The concept of IU is introduced to define the equality between the sample of interest and the control/SS-spike-in, and the equality among the samples of interest and among the controls/SS-spike-ins. The purpose of IU is to allow mathematic calculations (regression analysis of standard curve and back-calculation of copy number of sample) can be performed on the precise same level.

A) When label methods are used, IU is the signal emitted from per basic labeling unit per copy of molecule, or per double helix of DNA. The basic labeling unit can be a molecule that emits/re-emits a detectable signal, such as a fluorophore that re-emits light upon light excitation; the basic labeling unit can be a molecule that binds to dsDNA and emits increased signal intensity; the basic labeling unit can be a molecule that generates a detectable signal via metabolizing a substrate, such as an enzyme to cleave a chemiluminescent agent to produce luminescence, or to convert a substrate to a detectable color; the basic labeling unit can be a molecule that serves as a link between the molecule of interest and the molecule that causes detectable signal, such as a biotin that can be covalently attached to a protein of interest and then the biotin tag can be recognized by a gold-coupled anti-biotin conjugate that can cause detectable silver precipitation spot.

Three different labeling/dyeing methods are used to explain how IU is obtained based on the measured signal intensity in the following; control is SS-spike-in, or control template; and sample is the sample of interest:

1) Labeling method one: One basic labeling unit per molecule of interest, such as miRNA end labeling in miRNA microarray in FIG. 6; fluorogenic-labeled probes in qPCR in FIG. 7; or same labeling amount per biological molecule interest, such as an enzyme covalently linked to the second antibody in “sandwich” ELISA or membrane antibody array in FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. Each molecule of sample and molecule of control is capable of generating the same signal of known value.

The formula to calculate the IU of control (IU_(C)); INTENSITY_(C) (the signal intensity of control), and CN_(C) (the copy number of control) is as follows:

${IU}_{C} = \frac{{INTESITY}_{C}}{{CN}_{C}}$

The formula to calculate the IU of sample (IU_(S)); INTENSITY_(S) (the signal intensity of sample), and CN_(S) (the copy number of sample) is as follows:

${IU}_{S} = \frac{{INTESITY}_{S}}{{CN}_{S}}$

In labeling method one, per biological copy number generates same signal intensity. Thus, if CN_(S)=CN_(C), then INTENSITY_(S)=INTENSITY_(C).

2) Labeling method two: Unequal number of basic labeling unit per molecule of interest, such as Cy3-CTP labeled cRNA in mRNA expression profile microarray in FIG. 11. The individual labeled nucleotides on the molecule of control and on the molecule of sample are all capable of generating the same signal of known value.

The formula to calculate the IU of control (IU_(C)); INTENSITY_(C) (the signal intensity of control), CN_(C) (the copy number of control), and NL_(C) (number of basic labeling units per control molecule) is as follows:

${IU}_{C} = {\left( \frac{{INTESITY}_{C}}{{NL}_{C}} \right)/{CN}_{C}}$

The formula to calculate the IU of sample (IU_(S)); INTENSITY_(S) (the signal intensity of sample), CN_(S) (the copy number of sample), and NL_(S) (number of basic labeling units per sample molecule) is as follows:

${IU}_{S} = {\left( \frac{{INTESITY}_{S}}{{NL}_{S}} \right)/{CN}_{S}}$

In the labeling method two, per copy number of each gene of the sample of interest may generate different signal intensity, and may be different from the signal intensity of per copy number of control. In labeling method two, the signal intensity of per copy number depends on the total number of basic labeling units that bind to the biological molecule.

3) Labeling method three: The basic labeling unit is a double-stranded DNA/RNA binding dye, such as SYBR Green I, PicoGreen, EvaGreen, Hoechst 33258, BEBO, QuantiFluor, AccuClear, or AccuBlue. The dye binds dsDNA in qPCR products in FIG. 7, or in microarray hybridization pattern in FIG. 12. Assuming that each individual hybridized A-T/C-G of dsDNA is capable of binding the same amount of basic labeling unit, thus, each A-T/C-G is capable of generating the same signal of known value.

The formula to calculate the IU of control (IU_(C)); INTENSITY_(C) (the signal intensity of control), CN_(C) (the copy number of control), and NN_(C) (the number of nucleotides per control molecule) is as follows:

${IU}_{C} = {\left( \frac{{INTESITY}_{C}}{{NN}_{C}} \right)/{CN}_{C}}$

The formula to calculate the IU of sample (IU_(S)); INTENSITYS (the signal intensity of sample), CN_(S) (the copy number of sample), and NN_(S) (the number of nucleotides per sample molecule) is as follows:

${IU}_{S} = {\left( \frac{{INTESITY}_{S}}{{NN}_{S}} \right)/{CN}_{S}}$

In labeling method three, per copy number of each gene of the sample of interest may generate different signal intensity, and may be different from the signal intensity of per copy number of control. In labeling method three, the signal intensity of per copy number depends on the sequence length (nucleotide number) of double-stranded molecules; the longer, the stronger of signal intensity.

B) When label-free technology is used, IU is the signal emitted from per basic building unit per copy of molecule. For example, amino acids are the building units of protein; nucleotides are the building units of DNA. Label-free biosensor technology is a well-established analytical tool for kinetic, affinity, and concentration analyses; its application in a high-throughput setting has also been geared up. Label-free technologies include surface plasmon resonance (SPR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-throughput mass spectrometry, resonant waveguide plate-based screening, transmitted-light imaging, isothermal titration calorimetry, optical and impedance cell-based assays and other biophysical methods. In an optical biosensor experiment, a population of one binding partner is tethered to a sensor surface and an aliquot of the other partner is injected across this surface. The optical detection system measures the change in refractive index of the buffer near the sensor surface as analyte mass accumulates on the surface (RICH et al. 2007, LIEDBERG et al. 1983, O'MALLEY et al. 2007, WEMMER 2000). By measuring reflectivity, SPR can detect molecular adsorption, such as polymers, DNA or proteins, aptamer-protein interactions, etc. When the surface is patterned with different biopolymers, using adequate optics and imaging sensors (i.e. a camera), the technique extends to be surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI). SPRI provides a high contrast of the images based on the adsorbed amount of molecules, such as in antibody-polypeptide microarray in which the specific profile of antibody-polypeptide binding are determined by three-dimensional histogram (BROOKS et al. 2014, CHEN et al. 2012), and aptamer-protein microarray (Lautner et al.).

In label-free method, the calculation formulas of IU are the same of labeling method three. But NNC can be the number of nucleotides, or the number of amino acids, or the number of other basic building units of the molecule of interest; NNS can be the number of nucleotides, or the number of amino acids, or the number of other basic building units of the molecule of interest. Those formulas are based on the assumption of that each nucleotide/each amino acid/each other basic building unit can generate same signal of known value to meet the concept that IU has equality between the sample of interest and the SS-spike-in. Should this assumption be breached by scientific discovery, the formulas should be modified according to the scientific discovery.

V. Mathematic Formula for Various Labeling Methods

FIG. 13 showing how regression analysis will be performed using control signal intensity and the known copy number on each location of control spot/well/tube to derive a standard curve. This example applies simple linear regression analysis to generate equation Y=a+bX; where X is the log₁₀ transformed copy number (CN_(C)), and Y is the sum of total IU_(C) (SIU_(C)) for a giving spot/well/tube which is also log₁₀ transformed, b is the slope of the line, and a is the intercept. Thus, the copy number of a sample interest can be calculated by: X=10^((Y−a)b); where X is the copy number of sample interest (CN_(S)), and Y is the sum of total IU_(S) (SIU_(S)) for a giving spot/well/tube which is log₁₀ transformed. Since SIU=IU×CN, therefore

In labeling method one, SIU_(S)=INTENSITY_(S)=SIU_(C)=INTENSITY_(C) when CN_(S)=CN_(C);

In labeling method two, SIU_(S)≤INTENSITY_(S), SIU_(C)≤INTENSITY_(C), SIU_(S)=/≠SIU_(C) even CN_(S)=CN_(C), depending on whether NL_(S)=NL_(C) or not;

In labeling method three, SIU_(S)<INTENSITY_(S), SIU_(C)<INTENSITY_(C), SIU_(S)=/≠SIU_(C) even CN_(S)=CN_(C), depending on whether NN_(S)=NN_(C) or not.

The built-in standard curve can be one or more per array/plate/membrane; the control molecule can be a single molecule or many different molecules.

VI. The Computer Software and Kits of the Invention

In another embodiment of the invention, computer software for carrying out the subject invention is provided. FIG. 14 illustrates how the computer software is composed in a diagram. Such software may include normalization of background noise, normalization of hybridization on different locations (for example, each sub-grid) of a array, normalization of dye intensity, logarithm transformation of signal intensity and copy number, calculation of IU_(C)/SIU_(C) and IU_(S)/SIU_(S) according to measured signal intensity pattern, creation of standard curve(s) according to IU_(C)/SIU_(C) and CN_(C), generation of mathematic equation(s) according to the standard curve(s), determination of the copy number/absolute amount of each biological molecular interest. Such software may also include signal intensity justification for the subject that unequal amplification or different fluorophore effect is involved between built-in control and the sample interest. Such software may be used on the computer connected with biological experiment device or on a remote computer for analysis of transferred biological experiment data.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a kit and/or SS-Spike-in RNA, DNA, or peptide/protein, useful for the generating built-in standard curve(s) as described above, is provided. The kit and/or SS-spike-in set typically comprise a container, a label, and SS-target(s)/or SS-spike-in, probe(s) as described above. The kit may further include other materials desirable from a commercial and user standpoint, including elements or devices designed to facilitate the introduction of the built-in standard curve(s) into the absolute quantification, other buffers, enzymes, primers, dNTPs, diluents, filters, and the like. Such kit also includes instructional material for carrying out the subject methodology, where the instructional material could be present on a package insert, on one or more containers in kit and/or packaging associated with the kit.

In yet another aspect, the implementations include kit(s) which contain the adequate biological reagents to perform the assay. The term “biological reagent” as used herein refers to a biological material used for various biological analyses such as detecting, examining, and/or measuring information from biological samples.

In summary, the present invention provides an effective approach to assay the biological copy number via utilizing the common feature of biosensor detection system of selective interaction of certain biological molecules. Furthermore, the present invention takes advantage of constant ratio of the binding between probe and target. Therefore, it is possible to determine the molecule copy number of biological interest by pre-engineered standard copy number of either probe or target of control. Combed with computational method, precise determination of molecule copy number of biological interest is feasible. It may greatly contribute to the biomedical research by dramatically increasing the power of data to assist scientific discovery through global and historical data integration. It may greatly contribute to the clinical application as the data generated by experiments are applicable to clinical directly and there is no other translational step needed between researches and clinical. It may greatly contribute to cost efficiency because every data generated by standard can be repeatedly used, and because working efficiency can be improved by decreased individual experimental burden.

The following examples are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. It is also to be understood that the following examples are focus on the use of this invention, not on the matured biosensor detecting systems as they are adopted entirely from those standard methods in the arts.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the present invention which have been described are merely illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art based upon the teachings presented herein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The contents of all references cited throughout this application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

The following examples are set forth as being representative of the present invention. These examples are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as these and other equivalent embodiments will be apparent in view of the present disclosure, figures and accompanying claims.

EXAMPLES

1. Human miRNA microarray and FIG. 6 are employed to serve as an example to explain how built-in standard curve is used in the labeling method one to assay the miRNA copy number profile of the biological sample of interest.

Foreign miRNA chosen to engineer standard curve: The mature sequence dme-miR-2a-1-5p of drosophila miRNA (miRBase accession number MIMAT0020780) is employed to generate a built-in standard curve on human miRNA microarray. The sequence of dme-miR-2a-1-5p is synthesized, purified and quantitated to be ready as SS-target 501.

The probe of standard curve: The complementary antisense oligonucleotides DNA of dme-miR-2a-1-5p with an extra “G” residue at the 5′ end is synthesized, purified and quantitated to be ready as SS-probe. The SS-probe is then printed on the standard 1″×3″ microscope glass slide surface, which is activated to be able to immobilize the oligonucleotides, in triplicates with serial copy number dilutions (range from 10³ to 10¹⁰ copies) using SurePrint inkjet technology. The spot 601 and 602 are examples of SS-probe spots, along with printed spots of human miRNA probes on the same slide.

SS-spike-in: The drosophila miRNA dme-miR-2a-1-5p, defined as SS-target 501, is added to 100 ng total human RNA sample with the amount of 2× of SS-probe copy number that is printed on the glass slides, which is 2×3×(10³+10⁴+10⁵+10⁶+10⁷+10⁸+10⁹+10¹⁰) copies.

Labeling: The human total RNA with the SS-target 501 is subjected to miRNA 3′ end-labeled with cyanine 3-pCp.

Hybridization: The labeled miRNA is added into the chamber that is loaded with a microarray slide for hybridization.

Washing: The hybridized microarray slide is washed using washing buffer.

Scanning: The hybridized microarray slide is scanned using microarray scanner.

Hybridization pattern: The microarray scan data is processed for data extraction using software, by which the information from probe features is extracted from microarray scan data to become probe-linked signal intensity. Including in this step is also background normalization, log₁₀ transformation of signal intensity.

Mathematic equation: The simple linear regression analysis is performed based on the information of log₁₀(INTENSITY_(C)) and log₁₀(CN_(C)). Y=0.6161+0.569X is a putative equation generated from the regression analysis of series of control signal intensities and copy numbers in FIG. 6; those are the signal intensities of SS-target 501 at spot 601/602/and so on and the SS-probe copy numbers at spot 601/602/and so on.

Determining the copy number of human miRNA sample of interest: The sample copy number is calculated by: X=10^((Y−0.6161)/0.569). Thus, when the putative normalized signal intensity of human miRNA Si located by the probe at spot 600 i is 3, (3−0.6161)/0.569=4.18963; the copy number of human miRNA Si in 100 ng total RNA is: X=10^(4.18963)=15475 copies.

2. Human gene expression microarray and FIG. 11 are employed to serve as an example to explain how built-in standard curve is used in the labeling method two to assay the mRNA copy number profile of the biological sample of interest.

Foreign mRNA chosen to engineer standard curve: The arabidopsis thaliana peroxisomal small heat shock protein Hsp15.7 mRNA (GenBank Accession: DQ403190) is employed to generate a built-in standard curve control on human gene expression microarray. This gene mRNA has 414 bp with 112 “G” residues. The plasmid DNA with the insert of DQ403190 from original ERC (LEMIRE et al. 2011) is cleaved into a single linear strand, and then in vitro transcription is performed using Ambion MEGAscript® T7 Kit to generate control mRNA (DEVONSHIRE et al. 2010). The mRNA obtained from the transcription is purified and quantitated to be ready as SS-target 901.

The probe of standard curve: A fragment sequence with 60 nucleotides of DQ403190 is selected as control probe, synthesized, purified and quantitated to be ready as SS-probe. The SS-probe is then printed on the standard 1″×3″ microscope glass slide surface, which is activated to be able to immobilize the oligonucleotides, in triplicates with serial copy number dilutions (range from 10³ to 10¹⁰ copies) using SurePrint inkjet technology. The spot 1001 and 1002 are examples of SS-probe spots, along with printed spots of human mRNA probes on the same slide.

SS-spike-in: The arabidopsis thaliana peroxisomal small heat shock protein Hsp15.7 mRNA, defined as SS-target 901, is added to 1000 ng total human RNA sample with the amount of 2× of SS-probe copy number that is printed on the glass slide, which is 2×3×(10³+10⁴+10⁵+10⁶+10⁷+10⁸+10⁹+10¹⁰) copies.

Labeling: The total human RNA with SS-target 901 is subjected to 1^(st) strand cDNA synthesis, and then the 1^(st) strand cDNA is subjected to 2^(nd) strand cDNA synthesis. The 2^(nd) strand cDNA is used as template for in vitro transcription and labeling with cyanine 3-CTP, thus, the labeled transcript RNA is an antisense cRNA with labeled Cy3-C that has the equal number to “G” residues on the original mRNA, for example, labeled SS-target 901 has 112 Cy3-C residues.

Hybridization: The labeled cRNA is added into the chamber that is loaded with a microarray slide for hybridization.

Washing: The hybridized microarray slide is washed using washing buffer.

Scanning: The hybridized microarray slide is scanned using microarray scanner.

Hybridization pattern: The microarray scan data is processed for data extraction using software, by which the information from probe features is extracted from microarray scan data to become probe-linked signal intensity. Including in this step is also background normalization.

SIU transformation: Background normalized signal intensity is subjected to SIU transformation. For the SIU of SS-target at spot 1001, since the SS-target 901 has 112 labeled “C” residues, SIU₁₀₀₁=INTENSITY₁₀₀₁/112. Here is a critical transformation step; each gene has its specific transformation formula according to the gene sequence that can be obtained from GenBank. For example, human interleukin 2 (IL2) mRNA (GenBank Accession: NM_000586) has 822 bp nucleotides with 85 “G” residues and its probe is located at spot 900 j, therefore, SIU_(900j)=ITENSITY_(900j)/85.

Logarithm transformation: SIU and CN are subjected log₁₀ transformation.

Mathematic equation: The simple linear regression analysis is performed based on the information of log₁₀(SIU_(C)) and log₁₀(CN_(C)). Y=0.6161+0.569X is a putative equation generated from the regression analysis of normalized series of signal intensities and copy numbers of SS-spike-in in FIG. 11, e.g., the signal intensities of SS-target 901 at spot 1001/1002/and so on and the SS-probe copy numbers at spot 1001/1002/and so on.

Determining the copy number of human mRNA sample of interest: The sample copy number is calculated by: X=10^((Y−0.6161)/0.569). Thus, when the putative normalized and log₁₀ transformed SIU of human mRNA S_(900j) located by the probe at spot 1000 j is 3, (3−0.6161)/0.569=4.18963; the copy number of human mRNA S_(900j) in 1000 ng total RNA is: X=10^(4.18963)=15475 copies.

3. RT-qPCR (reverse transcription qPCR) array and FIG. 7 are employed to serve as an example to explain how built-in standard curve is used in the labeling method three to assay the mRNA copy number profile of biological sample of interest.

mRNA sequence chosen to engineer standard curve: The human beta actin (ACTB) mRNA (GenBank Accession: NM_001101) is employed to generate a built-in standard curve for PCR array. This gene has 1852 bp mRNA. The cDNA of ACBT is generated through cloned plasmid amplification, and then the insert of the cDNA of NM_001101 is cleaved into a single linear strand, purified and quantitated to be ready as control template.

The control template of standard curve: The purified cDNA of ACBT is deposited into the wells of multiple-well plate 700 with serial copy number dilutions (range from 10² to 10⁸ copies) in triplicate. The 701 and 702 are examples of control wells.

Reverse transcription: The human total RNA 50 ng of interest and mouse total RNA 50 ng of control are subjected to 1^(st) cDNA synthesis with oligo(dT) primers, respectively.

PCR amplification: The real-time PCR is performed using the standard method in the art with dsDNA dye SYBR Green I. RT of human RNA is added into sample wells; RT of mouse RNA is added into control/standard curve wells

Traditional absolute estimation of the initial abundance of amplicon by standard curve is described in the following to help to illustrate the difference between the present invention and the prior art practice of absolute standard curve in real-time PCR: i). In the traditional practice, the control template for standard curve is the same sequence of the sample gene of interest, thus, each gene of interest needs one standard curve, which is cumbersome. ii). The serial dilution of standard curve is done individually for each experiment, thus, standardization is not practicable. iii). In the traditional practice, the linear regression of standard curve is based on the threshold cycle (Ct) and copy number, see a putative traditional linear regression in FIG. 15. (STRISSEL et al. 2012, JENKINS et al. 2005, Applied Biosystems).

In some embodiments of the present invention, the combined use of fluorescence intensities that can be optionally obtained from each PCR cycle (i.e., not just the one threshold cycle (Ct) of the whole PCR reaction) and the concept of IU to make separate standard curve for different PCR cycle can be optionally applied to: 1) reduce the need of number of standard curves, thus, one standard curve may be suitable for the copy number assay of many genes; 2) greatly increase the accuracy of gene copy number assay. Following steps are detail description of the present invention on mathematic calculations.

PCR product length: The forward and reverse primers of ACBT are chosen at 1045 for forward primer beginning and 1108 for reverse primer end, thus, the PCR product length of ACBT is 64 bp. Human angiotensin II receptor variant 1 gene (AT1, GenBank Accession: AY221090) is employed to be an example of sample gene of interest, and it has 1080 bp. The forward and reverse primers of AT1 are chosen at 434 for forward primer beginning and 501 for reverse primer end, thus, the PCR product length of AT1 is 68 bp.

SIU calculation: Background normalized signal intensity is subjected to SIU transformation. Therefore, when the difference of fluorescence intensity between A-T and C-G is not concerned, the SIU of control ACBT at spot 701, SIU₇₀₁=INTENSITY₇₀₁/64; the SIU of sample AT1 at spot 700 k, SIU_(700k)=INTENSITY_(700k)/68 (see FIG. 7). Here is a critical transformation step; each gene has its specific transformation formula according to the amplicon size based on the primer locations. This transformation is performed on all data between threshold and plateau cycles, which are the exponential phase (see FIG. 16).

Logarithm transformation: Both of SIU and CN are subjected to log₁₀ transformation.

Mathematic equation: The simple linear regression analysis of each cycle is performed based on the information of log₁₀(SIU_(C)) and log₁₀(CN_(C)). Y=0.6161+0.569X is a putative equation of cycle 20, which is generated from the regression analysis of normalized series of signal intensities and copy numbers of ACBT in FIG. 7, e.g., the signal intensities of spot 701/702/and so on and template copy numbers at spot 701/702/and so on.

Determination of the copy number of human mRNA sample: The regression equation selected to back-calculation is decided by the Ct of sample of interest. For example, if the Ct of AT1 is 20, its copy number is calculated by: X=10^((Y−0.6161)/0.569). Thus, when the putative normalized signal intensity of human mRNA S_(AT1) located by the primers at spot 700 k is 3 at cycle 20, (3−0.6161)/0.569=4.18963; the copy number of human mRNA AT1 in 50 ng total RNA is: 10^(4.18963)=15475 copies.

All references in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Further features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present application will become more fully apparent in the following description of the embodiments and drawings thereof, and from the claims.

REFERENCES

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The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of determining absolute quantity of at least one sample template, comprising: i) providing a series of control templates and at least one sample template, wherein each of the series of control templates has a different and known copy number; ii) amplifying each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template by PCR and detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product obtained from amplification of each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template in each PCR cycle during an exponential phase to thereby obtain a series of control signals corresponding respectively to the series of control templates and at least one sample signal corresponding respectively to the at least one sample template for the each PCR cycle; iii) making a standard curve relating an intensity of each of the series of control signals with a known copy number of one of the series of control templates corresponding to the each of the series of control signals for the each PCR cycle; and iv) determining a copy number of each of the at least one sample template by using the standard curve to translate an intensity of each of the at least one sample signal to the copy number of the each of the at least one sample template.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the series of control templates has a substantially same sequence.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the series of control templates has a different sequence among one another.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein in step iii), the standard curve is obtained with a regression analysis.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of each of the series of control signals for making the standard curve in step iii) and the intensity of each of the at least one sample signal in step iv) are obtained from a same PCR cycle number.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein in step ii), the amplifying each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template is performed in separate PCR reactions.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the separate PCR reactions are performed in separate wells on a multiple-well plate, separate tubes, or separate reaction chambers in a microfluidic device.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein in step ii), amplification of each of the series of control templates, amplification of the at least one sample template, or amplification of each of the series of control templates and one or more of the at least one sample template is performed in one single PCR reaction.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein in step ii), the amplifying each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template is performed by means of a pair of primers corresponding to the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template, wherein the pair of primers are further configured such that the amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template does not interfere with amplification of another of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein in step ii), the detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product obtained from amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template is via a label-free approach without use of any dye or any label.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein in step ii), the detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product obtained from amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template is by means of at least one probe specifically targeting the PCR product obtained from the amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein in step ii), the amplifying each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template is performed in one single PCR reaction, wherein each of the at least one probe is further configured not to promiscuously target a PCR product obtained from amplification of another of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein a number of at least one probe is one.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one probe comprises an oligonucleotide probe having at least one basic labelling unit thereon.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one basic labelling unit in the each of the at least one probe comprises a fluorophore.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the each of the at least one probe further comprises a quencher.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein a type of the oligonucleotide probe is a primer probe, a hydrolysis probe, or a probe comprising at least one nucleic acid analogue.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein a type of the oligonucleotide probe is a hydrolysis probe.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein in step ii), the detecting a signal correlating to an amount of PCR product obtained from amplification of the each of the series of control templates and the at least one sample template is by means of a dsDNA (double strand DNA) dye.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein: step iii) comprises: adjusting an intensity of each of the series of control signals by a length of a PCR product obtained from amplification of one of the series of control templates corresponding to the each of the series of control signals to thereby obtain an adjusted intensity of the each of the series of control signals; and making a standard curve relating the adjusted intensity of the each of the series of control signals with the known copy number of the one of the series of control templates for the each PCR cycle; and step iv) comprises: adjusting an intensity of each of the at least one sample signal by a length of a PCR product obtained from amplification of one of the at least one sample signal corresponding to the each of the at least one sample signal to thereby obtain an adjusted intensity of the each of the at least one sample signal; and determining the copy number of the each of the at least one sample template by using the standard curve to translate the adjusted intensity of the each of the at least one sample signal to the copy number of the each of the at least one sample template. 